Bird asks Milwaukee residents to protest scooter ban at Common Council meeting

A collection of Bird scooters wait to be rented near the Milwaukee County historical center at 910 North Old World Third Street. The City of Milwaukee took legal action against Santa Monica, Calif.-based Bird Rides Inc., the company responsible for dropping off 100 motorized scooters in the Historic Third Ward, Walker's Point and other parts of downtown late last month.(Photo: Asad Ware / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

"Whether you rely on Bird to help you get around town, to get to work, or to explore local businesses in your neighborhood, let's tell the Council that we want them to say, 'NO,' to the proposed ban," it continues.

Kirby Bridges, left, and Megan Garlington pose with the Bird scooters they were taking for an afternoon ride in Milwaukee. Milwaukee is suing California-based Bird to stop the company from renting bikes because the city contends they are illegal to operate on streets and sidewalks.(Photo: Associated Press)

The email asks riders to meet outside City Hall at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday so everyone can head into the Common Council Chambers at the same time.

For riders who cannot attend, the email includes a link to a website where residents can quickly send a statement to city officials.

The scooters appeared in Milwaukee on June 27, and since then the city attorney has issued Bird a cease-and-desist letter and sued the scooter-share startup. Despite the dispute, residents continue to ride scooters all around the city.

The city attorney has repeatedly said that, under state law, motorized scooters like Bird may not be operated on any street or sidewalk in Wisconsin.